Shading process for photographs



Nov. 30, 1948. H. J. TuTHlLL summe PROCESS Fon rHo'roenAPHs Filed April5. 194e YFIG FIGA.-

5. Gfooooooo 7 FIGS.

INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHADING PROCESS FORPHOTOGRAPHS Harry J. Tuthll, St. JLou'is, Mo. Application April 5,1946,;Serial..No.a659,824

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vprocesses of producing, whole or in part,drawings, pictures or `other Vgraphic compositions by means of stipple,spatter dots or areas comprising half tone orBen Day type lines orshading.

The principal objects of the present invention are to devise a simpleand economical process of quickly and easily applying such lines orshading to any fairly smooth and solid surface; Vto provide sharplydefined dotted lines or tones of any desired contour; to vary the sizes,shape and spacing of the dots which make up the lines or shaded areas soas to produce varying tone shades or tints; and to obtain otheradvantages hereinafter appearing.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, andwherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of drawing to which my stipplingprocess is to be applied.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the perforated film laid upon andadhesively secured to said drawing,

Fig. 3 is a similar View, showing the white and blackink applied to thedesired areas of the perforated film,

Fig. 4 is a similar' view of the drawing after the perforated film hasbeen stripped therefrom,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the perforated film,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 6 6 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional View on the line 7 7 in Fig. 4;and

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, showinga further step in my stippling process.

The invention consists in providing a thin sheet of transparent,translucent or opaque material having a multiplicity of suitablyspacedperforations of the desired sizes and shape extendingtherethrough, laying said sheet upon any surface as that of a drawing,picture or other graphic composition, moistening said sheet with asuitable fluid which causes said sheet to closely adhere to saidsurface, applying iiuid ink or `other fluid or viscid coloring materialover the said sheet so .that said ink iiows or is worked through theperforations therein and is deposited upon said surface in the `form ofdots or areas of the size and shape of said perforations, and thenstripping said sheet from the drawing leaving ink dots thereon. Theinvention also consists in making the perforated sheet of viscoseCellophane (nonmoistureproof cellulose film), and softening such lm withwater to cause it to closely adhere to .the surface of the graphiccomposition. .Thefinvention .also consists in making the perforatedsheet :of lcellulose acetate lm, and in rendering such :lm temporarily.adhesive by applying a Cir suitable .volatile solvent thereto. VTheinvention also `consists in applying tothe surface, or tothe graphickcomposition inthe .manner above describedseveral dotted 'impositions insuccessive order one over another and in coveringthe originalcomposition and each imposition prior to the 'final imposition with aprotecting agent which is not disturbed by the solvent or softeningagent used in rendering the perforated film adhesive. The invention alsoconsists in the process hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The first step in my process of applying dotted lines or areas to V asurface or to a drawing, painting or -other graphic Work or compositionI, consists in providing a thin, transparent, :translucent or opaquesheet or film 2 of athickness not more than two thousandths of .an inchand of suitable softenable material vwith a kmultiplicity of smalllperforations 3 extending therethrough. All lof the `perforationsSmay'be vof the same size and shape and 'uniformly spaced, or they mayvary in size and shape and spaced relation, depending on the effectdesired. The perforated film l2 is laid flat over the portion of thegraphic composition I to which thedotted line or dotted area is to beapplied. A suitable-softening uid is then applied to the exposed surfaceofthe lm 2 and flows or is worked through the perforations 3 therein `tothe underside thereof, after which the softened film is pressed againstthe surface of said drawing and temporarily Vadheres closely thereto.Fluidor viscid in-k or other liquid coloring material is thenpainted-over the surface of the perforated /lm above the area that is tobe treated -and is worked vthrough the 'perforations to such area andforms thereon amultiplicity of ink dots. The film v2 is thenstrippedfrom the drawing l leaving an -inkdotted area `of the desiredshade and contour thereon. As shown in Fig. `1, the portions ofthe sheetof drawing fl to which the dots are to be applied Aare a solidblackshadow area 4 andthe white area 5 enclosed within the lines defining thecoat of the character indicated `on said drawing, white ink 6 beingapplied Ato `the `perforated film to kproduce lwhite dots l .on the`black area lland black ink 8 being applied to said lm to formblack'dots :Sion the whiterarea 5.

vWhile `the perforated :film .-2 may be made yof any `transparent for'translucent material .which may be softened with a fluid applied afterthe lmlis applied .to .the work :l, ythe'-nfiaterials that I have foundto be most `practicable vare nonmoistureproof fGellcphane (celluloseifilm) or cellulose Aacetate film. The non-moistureproo'f .Cel1ophaneflmis `softened with water andre-- mainsxsoft Yancliin vclosefcontact withthe surface of the workiso jong as itis maintained :moist or wets; :andit is :particularly adaptable "to polished surfacessuch A as fglass,ilm, or aeither, containing phane lm is laid in the desired place onthesuriace to which the dotted line or area is to be applied and waterappliedto the lm to soften it. The excess water is blotted away and thefilm pressed smoothly with a blotter to the surface, after which thefilm is covered with wet or moist blotters which are successivelyremoved from the portion of the lm to which the ink or otherimpositional uid is to be applied, While continuing to cover and keepsoft all of the other portions of the hlm so that, when all desiredportionsl thereof have been covered with ink or other material and suchmaterial has dried, or remains viscid, the film may be removed intact,leaving on the treated surface the groups of sharply defined ink dots 'land/or 9, corresponding in size, shape and arrangement to theperforaticns 3 in the Cellophane film.

The cellulose acetate im may be softened with a mixture of, 67 partsethyl alcohol and 33 parts ethylene glycol mono-methyl ether. Thesoftening agent or solvent is applied preferably with a brush 'to allparts of the film which, at once tends to wrinkle slightly. The wrinklesor buckles are then pressed lightly with a blotter until the film ispressed smooth, after which the film is pressed and rubbed with a pieceof thin paper for about seconds. The operations of applying the softenerand pressing or rubbing the perforated film are repeated, after whichthe ink or other fluid or viscid material is applied to the desiredportions of the film and passes through the perforations Stherethroughto the surface to which the film adheres. When the imposed matter isdried or while viscid, the nlm is lifted or stripped intact from thesurface, leaving thereon the sharply defined ink dots 'l and/or 9.

Another softening agent which I have found suitable for use with acellulose acetate film is a mixture of parts ethyl alcohol and 65 partsethyl acetate. This mixture is more volatile and saves time (see Figs. 8and 9) when it is desired to apply several films and impositions ofquick drying ink dots 8 in consecutive order to the same surface. Thesemixtures are preferable because they are common softening agents whosetoxicity is comparatively low and which present no great industrialhazard and do not have an objectionable odor.

In cases where it is desired to superimpose successive dotted India inkareas one over the other to a surface having an India ink drawingthereon,

said surface and each successive dotted area are rubbed with a zincstearate powder, which is insoluble in water, alcohol and ether, so thatthe previously applied ink will not be disturbed. by the succeedingapplication of the film softening agent or adhere to the undersides ofsucceeding films.

The hereinbefore described process has many important advantages. `It isapplicable to any fairly smooth surface, as that of drawing paper orboard, pressed ber, wood, stone, glass, film, metal, plaster andplastics. It enables dotted lines or areas to be quickly and easilyapplied with relatively small cost to the desired portions of the work;and these dotted lines or areas may be made with any nuidior viscidmaterial such as India ink, decorative colors, engraving resist or thelike. Different shading and tones may be produced with one color, byvarying the size, shape and spacing of the perforations and by arrangingthem in geometrical or variegated patterns or by superimposition. Themultiplicity of dots that make up the shaded areas all have evenlyshaped, clearly defined edges and thus greatly improve the appearance ofgraphic compositions made with them or to which they are applied. Theterm graphic composition as used herein is intended to denote a drawing,picture, sign, decoration or any material having a substantially smoothand solid work surface; and the term fluid ink is intended to includeany fluid or viscid material adapted for use in forming the dotted linesor areas.

Obviously, the hereinbefore described process admits of considerablemodiicaticn without departing from the invention. Therefore, I dc notwish to be iimited to the precise process shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. The process of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a thin sheet of transparent iiexi'ole material having amultiplicity of perforations extending therethrough, laying suchperforated sheet upon said graphic composition, applying to the exposedface of said sheet a liquid solvent therefor which flows through theperforations therein to the underside thereof and causes said sheet toremovably adhere to said graphic composition, and then applying to saidexposed surface of said sheet a viscous marking fiuid which flowsthrough said perforations and adheres to said graphic composition in theform of dots corresponding t0 the shape, size and spacing of saidperforations.

2. The process of applying dots to a surface which consists in providinga thin sheet of transparent iiexible materia] having a multiplicity ofperforations extending therethrough, laying such perforated sheet uponsaid surface, applying to the exposed face of said sheet a liquidsolvent therefor which flows through the periorations therein to theunderside thereof and causes said sheet to removably adhere to saidsurface and provides a fluid tight seal between said surface and saidsheet around the perforations therein, and then applying to said sheet aviscous marking uid which flows through said perforations and adheres tosaid surface in the form of dots correspending to the shape, size andspacing of said perforations.

3. The pro-cess of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a thin sheet of transparent flexible material having amultiplicity of perforations extending therethrough in a predeterminedmanner, laying such perforated sheet upon said grap-hic composition,applying to the exposed face of said sheet a liquid solvent thereforwhich flows through the perforations therein to the underside thereofand causes said sheet to adhere temporarily to said graphic composition,applying to said exposed surface of said sheet a fluid ink which flowsthrough said perforations and is deposited on said graphic compositionin the form of dots corresponding to the shape, size and spacing of saidperforations, and then stripping said sheet from said graphiccomposition, leaving the ink dots thereon.

4. The process of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a thin sheet of transparent exible soluble material havingamultiplicity of perforations extending therethrough, laying suchperforated sheet upon said graphic composition, applying to the exposedface of said sheet a liquid solvent therefor which flows through theperforations therein to the underside thereof and causes said sheet toremovably adhere to said graphic composition, applying to said exposedsurface of said sheet a fiuid ink which flows through said perforationsand is deposited on said graphic composition in the form of dotscorresponding to the shape, size and spacing of said perforations, andthen stripping said sheet from said graphic composition, leaving the inkdots thereon.

5. The process of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a transparent cellulose flexible film having a multiplicityof perforations extending therethrough, laying such perforated film uponsaid graphic composition, applying to the exposed face of said sheet aliquid solvent therefor which flows through the perforations therein tothe underside thereof and causes said film to removably adhere to saidgraphic composition, applying to said exposed surface of said film afluid ink which flows through said perforations and is deposited on saidgraphic composition in the form of dots corresponding to the shape, sizeand spacing of said perforations, and then stripping said film from saidgraphic composition, leaving the ink dots thereon.

6. The process of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a transparent water soluble cellulose film having amultiplicity of perforations extending therethrough, laying suchperforated film upon said graphic composition, applying to the exposedface of said sheet water which fiows through the perforations therein tothe underside thereof and softens the same, and renders the undersideadhesive, pressing the softened film against said graphic composition tocause it to removably adhere flatwise thereto, applying to said exposedsurface of said film a fluid ink which flows through said perforationsand is deposited on said graphic composition in the form of dotscorresponding to the shape, size and spacing of said perforations, andthen stripping said film from said graphic composition, leaving the inkdots thereon.

7. The process of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a transparent cellulose film having a multiplicity ofperforations extending therethrough, laying such perforated film uponsaid graphic composition, applying to the exposed face of said film aliquid solvent therefor which flows through the perforations therein andrenders the underside thereof adhesive, pressing said film against saidgraphic composition to cause it to removably adhere thereto, applying tosaid exposed surface of said film a fluid ink and working said inkthrough said perforations so that it is deposited on said graphiccomposition in the form of dots corresponding to the shape, size andspacing of said perforations, and then stripping said film from saidgraphic composition, leaving the ink dots thereon.

8. The process of applying dots to a pen and ink `drawing which consistsin providing a transparent cellulose acetate film having a multiplicityof perforations extending therethrough, laying such perforated film uponsaid drawing, applying to the exposed face of said film a volatileliquid solvent therefor which fiows through the perforations therein andrenders the underside thereof adhesive, pressing said adhesive filmagainst said drawing to cause it to removably adhere atwise thereto, andapplying to said exposed surface of said film a fluid ink which flowsthrough said perforations and is deposited on said drawing in the formof dots corresponding to the shape, size and spacing of saidperforations.

9. The process set forth in claim 3 wherein the steps of applying thesolvent to the film and pressing the film against the graphiccomposition are repeated before the fluid link is applied to the lm.

10. The process of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a thin sheet of transparent flexible material having amultiplicity of perforations extending therethrough, laying suchperforated sheet upon said graphic composition, applying to the exposedface of said sheet a liquid solvent therefor which ows through theperforations therein to the underside thereof and causes said sheet toremovably adhere to said graphic composition, applying to said exposedsurface of said sheet a fluid ink which iiows through said perforationsand is deposited on said graphic composition in the form of dotscorresponding to the shape, size and spacing of said perforations,stripping said sheet from said graphic composition, covering the dottedarea with an agent which is resistant to the liquid solvent for saidsheet, laying a second sheet of perforated transparent material over thedotted area treated With such resistant agent, and then applying theliquid solvent and the ink to said second sheet in the same manner inwhich they are applied to the first sheet.

11. The process of applying dots to a graphic composition which consistsin providing a thin sheet of transparent cellulose film having amultiplicity of perforations extending therethrough, laying suchperforated film upon said graphic composition, applying to the exposedface of said sheet a volatile liquid solvent therefor which fiowsthrough the perforations therein to the underside thereof and causessaid film to removably adhere to said graphic composition, applying tosaid exposed surface of said film a fluid ink which flows through saidperforations and is deposited on said graphic composition in the form ofdots corresponding to the shape, size and spacing of said perforations,removing said film, rubbing the dotted ink area with a zinc stearatepowder which is resistant to said solvent, laying a second perforatedtransparent cellulose film over the dotted area which has been treatedwith the resistant powder, and then applying the liquid solvent and theink to said second sheet in the same manner in which they are applied tothe first sheet.

HARRY J. TUTHILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 253,669 Baptiste Feb. 14, 1882476, 033 Bunch May 31, 1892 978, 500 Spiegel Dec. 13, 1910 1, 285, 903Bacconi Nov. 26, 1918 1,433, 203 Halpern Oct. 24, 1922 1,752,011 LatterMar. 25, 1930 1, 861, 003 Foster May 31, 1932 2, 197, 015 Swaysland Apr.16, 1940

